CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSSSecond Lieutenant Roy Corry, Jr. was a pilot flying with VMF-223, part of the Cactus Air Force based out of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. He was among the squadron’s best pilots in terms of technical skill and experience – he had two confirmed kills at the Battle of Midway.

On 26 August 1942, Corry joined a dozen Cactus pilots intercepting an estimated thirty Japanese aircraft. He got behind one twin-engined bomber, but was shot down by the ship’s tail gunner. F4F-4 #03405 dropped into the sea, taking Corry with her.

Lieutenant Corry was never seen again. He was declared dead on 27 August 1943.

Biography:
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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant Roy A. Corry (MCSN: 0-7540), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Squadron Commander and a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Delivering a dauntless and aggressive assault against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, Second Lieutenant Corry shot down one Navy Aichi Type dive bomber and one OO Isento KI Navy Fighter, thereby aiding in the disruption of enemy plans and lessening the effectiveness of their attack. His courageous determination, maintained at great personal risk against tremendous odds, contributed materially to the success of our forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Articles and Records:

Santa Ana Register, 10 July 1940

Santa Ana Register, 11 April 1941

Santa Ana Register, 23 October 1941

Santa Ana Register, 5 June 1942

Roy Corry’s formal report of the action at Midway. Although he credits McCarthy with two kills, the captain seems to have been credited with only one.

Santa Ana Register, 11 June 1942

Santa Ana Register, 24 June 1942

Santa Ana Register, 28 September 1942

Santa Ana Register, 14 October 1942

Santa Ana Register, 5 December 1942

Santa Ana Register, 14 December 1942

Photo Gallery:

Roy Corry graduated from Santa Ana High School in 1938.

VMF-221 survivors at Ewa Field, 22 June 1942. Corry’s attitude grew more fatalistic after Midway; worry is starting to show on his face.

Midway survivors, Ewa Field, 14 July 1942. Corry joined VMF-223 shortly after this picture was taken.